On August 1, 1987, Bob Seger’s “Shakedown” climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. This energetic track was Seger’s only No. 1 hit and featured in Eddie Murphy’s movie, Beverly Hills Cop II. Let’s take a look at other significant events in Top 40 history that happened on this date.
In 1964, Beatlemania was in full swing as “A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles topped the Billboard Hot 100, while the album of the same name held the No. 1 spot on the Billboard 200. Fast forward to 1981, Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl” also reached No. 1 and spent an impressive 32 weeks on the chart. In 1989, Madonna released “Cherish,” inspired by Romeo and Juliet, which peaked at No. 2.
In 2020, Taylor Swift surprised fans with her album Folklore, which hit No. 1 on the U.K.’s Official Albums Chart, written during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
August 1 has also seen some cultural milestones. In 1942, the American Federation of Musicians went on strike over royalty payments. In 1981, MTV launched, airing “Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles, changing how artists promoted their music. Six years later, MTV Europe debuted with “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits.
Live performances on this day have been unforgettable too. In 1971, George Harrison hosted The Concert for Bangladesh, paving the way for future charity concerts. In 2007, Prince kicked off a 21-night residency at London’s O2 Arena, selling tickets for just £31.21.
August 1 is truly a memorable day in music history!
